Focus on Alliances 10/6/06

Dynavax to Collaborate with AstraZeneca on Asthma and COPD TreatmentsDynavax Technologies Corp., Berkeley, Calif., entered into a research collaboration and license agreement with AstraZeneca, London, UK, for the discovery and development of TLR-9 agonist-based therapies to treat asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Full Article

Graffinity and Boehringer Ingelheim to Collaborate on Drug DiscoveryGraffinity Pharmaceuticals GmbH, Heidelberg, Germany, entered into a research collaboration with Boehringer Ingelheim (BI) Pharmaceuticals Inc., Ingelheim, Germany, involving BI four global research sites, whereby Graffinity will receive technology access fees and success payments for the generation of various novel small molecule hit series against multiple drug targets. Full Article

EnBioTec and TimTec to Develop Nuclear Receptor-Based Lead ChemicalsEnBioTec Laboratories Co. Ltd., Tokyo, Japan, entered into an agreement with TimTec Inc., Newark Del., to co-develop nuclear receptor based lead compounds for drug discovery. EnBioTec’s Receptor Cofactor Assay System will be used and TimTec will provide compounds and further a series of functional assays to develop unique and novel compounds for drug discovery.Full Article

US and Australian Biotechs Collaborate on Semen-Based Prostate Cancer TestScientists at Proteome Systems, North Ryde, Australia, working with with New York-based Egenix Inc., Millbrook, N.Y., to develop a semen-based prostate cancer test designed to improve on the accuracy of the prostate-specific antigen test, identified a prostate cancer biomarker associated with Human Carcinoma-Antigen.Full Article

Elan and Transition Form Global Collaboration on Alzheimer's Disease DrugElan Corp. plc, Dublin, Ireland, and Transition Therapeutics Inc., Toronto, Canada, announced an exclusive, worldwide collaboration agreement for the joint development and commercialization of a small molecule compound, AZD-103, in phase I clinical development, to treat Alzheimer's disease. Full Article

M. D. Anderson and Baylor Team Up for Asthma ResearchThe University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, and Baylor College of Medicine, both in Houston, have launched the Texas Medical Center Asthma and Allergic Diseases Cooperative Research Center, funded by a $5.6 million five-year grant from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases of the National Institutes of Health.Full Article

Sigma-Aldrich Forms RNAi Collaboration with Academic LeadersSigma-Aldrich, St. Louis, Mo., welcomes researchers from The Wistar Institute, Mayo Clinic, Tufts University, Princeton University, the Moores Cancer Center at the University of California, San Diego, and Washington University in St. Louis to the Sigma RNAi Partnership Program to advance functional genomics research by providing tools for RNA interference (RNAi) through collaborations with select academic institutions. Full Article

ACQUISITIONS

Aptuit to Acquire Ingredients Business from EaglePicherAptuit Inc., Greenwich, Conn., signed an agreement to acquire the assets and operations of EaglePicher Pharmaceutical Services, Inkster, Mich., the first step forward in Aptuit’s plan to build capabilities in active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) development and drug substance manufacturing.Full Article

Amgen to Acquire AvidiaAmgen Inc., Thousand Oaks, Calif., entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Avidia, Mountain View, Calif., a privately held biopharmaceutical company that discovers and develops a new class of human therapeutic known as Avimer proteins. Full Article